W. Christopher Waddell
Encyclopedia
Wayne Christopher Waddell (born June 28, 1959) has been a general authority
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) since 2011. He is a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy.
Born in Manhattan Beach, California
, Waddell was a missionary
for the LDS Church in Spain
from 1978 to 1980. He earned a bachelors degree in history from San Diego State University
, where he was a member of the volleyball
team. Beginning in 1984, he worked for Merrill Lynch
in San Diego, California
and eventually became the firm's first vice president of investments. He completed some work in the MBA program at Brigham Young University
.
In the LDS Church, Waddell has also been a bishop and a stake president. From 2006 to 2009 he was the president
of the church's Spain Barcelona
Mission (LDS Church)
. From 2009 to 2011 he was an area seventy and a member of the Fifth Quorum of the Seventy.
Waddell became a full-time general authority of the church in April 2011, when he was added to the First Quorum of the Seventy.
Waddell is married to Carol Stansel and is the father of four children.
General authority
In The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , a general authority is a member of certain leadership organizations who are given administrative and ecclesiastical authority over the church...
of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints (LDS Church) since 2011. He is a member of the First Quorum of the Seventy.
Born in Manhattan Beach, California
Manhattan Beach, California
Manhattan Beach is the wealthiest beachfront city located in southwestern Los Angeles County, California, USA. The city is on the Pacific coast, south of El Segundo, and north of Hermosa Beach. Manhattan Beach is the home of both beach and indoor volleyball, and surfing. During the winter, the...
, Waddell was a missionary
Mormon missionary
The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is one of the most active modern practitioners of missionary work, with over 52,000 full-time missionaries worldwide, as of the end of 2010...
for the LDS Church in Spain
Spain
Spain , officially the Kingdom of Spain languages]] under the European Charter for Regional or Minority Languages. In each of these, Spain's official name is as follows:;;;;;;), is a country and member state of the European Union located in southwestern Europe on the Iberian Peninsula...
from 1978 to 1980. He earned a bachelors degree in history from San Diego State University
San Diego State University
San Diego State University , founded in 1897 as San Diego Normal School, is the largest and oldest higher education facility in the greater San Diego area , and is part of the California State University system...
, where he was a member of the volleyball
Volleyball
Volleyball is a team sport in which two teams of six players are separated by a net. Each team tries to score points by grounding a ball on the other team's court under organized rules.The complete rules are extensive...
team. Beginning in 1984, he worked for Merrill Lynch
Merrill Lynch
Merrill Lynch is the wealth management division of Bank of America. With over 15,000 financial advisors and $2.2 trillion in client assets it is the world's largest brokerage. Formerly known as Merrill Lynch & Co., Inc., prior to 2009 the firm was publicly owned and traded on the New York...
in San Diego, California
San Diego, California
San Diego is the eighth-largest city in the United States and second-largest city in California. The city is located on the coast of the Pacific Ocean in Southern California, immediately adjacent to the Mexican border. The birthplace of California, San Diego is known for its mild year-round...
and eventually became the firm's first vice president of investments. He completed some work in the MBA program at Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University
Brigham Young University is a private university located in Provo, Utah. It is owned and operated by The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints , and is the United States' largest religious university and third-largest private university.Approximately 98% of the university's 34,000 students...
.
In the LDS Church, Waddell has also been a bishop and a stake president. From 2006 to 2009 he was the president
Mission president
Mission president is a priesthood leadership position in The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints . A mission president presides over a mission and the missionaries serving in the mission...
of the church's Spain Barcelona
Barcelona
Barcelona is the second largest city in Spain after Madrid, and the capital of Catalonia, with a population of 1,621,537 within its administrative limits on a land area of...
Mission (LDS Church)
Mission (LDS Church)
A mission of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints is a geographical administrative area to which church missionaries are assigned. Almost all areas of the world are within the boundaries of an LDS Church mission, whether or not Mormon missionaries live or proselytize in the area...
. From 2009 to 2011 he was an area seventy and a member of the Fifth Quorum of the Seventy.
Waddell became a full-time general authority of the church in April 2011, when he was added to the First Quorum of the Seventy.
Waddell is married to Carol Stansel and is the father of four children.